Tooth mounting means for earth working implements

ABSTRACT

An excavator bucket or similar earth working implement having an earth engaging blade, a tooth removably mounted on the blade and there being releasable clamping means such as a wedge or engageable pin engaged between the tooth and the blade at a position spaced inwardly from the edge to secure the tooth to the blade or other implement.

United States Patent Prime [4 1 July 25, 1972 s41 TOOTH MOUNTING MEANSFOR 1,620,132 3/1921 Psilander ..37/142 R EARTH WORKING [MPLENIENTS2,259,456 10/ 194i Crawford .....37/ I42 R 3,006,089 10/1961 Johnson.....37/l42 R [721 England 2,904,908 9/1959 Ratkowski ..37/|42 R 73Assignee; Bunion] Baum" u n d 2,092,311 9/ i937 l-losmer et al ..37ll42X Rocester, Uttoxeter, England 3,426,459 2/1969 Petersen ..37/l42 R2,846,79l 8/1958 Hosmer et al. ..37/l42 R [221 Fm 3,509,648 5/1970 Smith..37/142 R 211 App. 3,236 2,568,075 9/]951 Launder ..37/l42 A 2,472,8926/l949 George ..37/i42 R [30] Foreign Application Priority Data PrimaryExaminer sdgax Feb. 3, 1970 Great Britain ..7,743/69 Attorney-Owen. h m& Eri ks n 52 us. c|..... '1, 37/142 A AB TRAC [51] Int. Cl. ..E02i 9/28An excavator bucket or similar emh workin g Implement hav- [58] Field ofSearch ..37/14l, 142, 299/91 ing an an engaging blade a moth mmovablymounud on the blade and there being releasable clamping means such as aReferences Cm wedge or engageable pin engaged between the tooth and then- STATES PATENTS blade at a position spaced inwardly from the edge tosecure the tooth to the blade or other implement. 2,403,078 7/ 1946Hettelsater ..299/9l X 1,220,186 3/1917 Chambers ..37/l42 R 12 Claims, 6Drawing Figures is 6 le '5 Patented July 25, 1972 .3 Sheets-Shout 1INVENTOR DEREK ARTHUR PRME ATTORNEYS Patented July 25, 1972 2Sheets-Sheet 2 F/GlL INVENTER DEREK ARTHUR PRIME ATTORNEYS TOOTHMOUNTING MEANS FOR EARTH WORKING IMPLEMENTS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONI Field of the Invention 2. Description of Prior Art This inventionrelates to earth working implements having at least one earth workingtooth provided thereon. For example, the bucket of a backhoe typeexcavator may have a row of outwardly projecting teeth provided alongone edge of its open mouth, such teeth being secured in spaced apartrelationship along a front edge of the bucket. In addition, other earthworking implements such as scrapers or loader buckets may have similarteeth provided therealong. Also, certain specialized tools may have asingle large size tooth provided thereon.

The tooth or teeth above referred to encounter very ardous conditionswhen in use and are subject to a great deal of wear which can lead tothe necessity for frequent replacement of the tooth or teeth whichbecome worn and damaged and thus provision must be made for replacementof the tooth or teeth.

An object of the invention is to provide a new or improved means forremovably securing such a tooth or teeth to an earth working implement.A further object of the invention is to provide a new or improved meansfor removably securing such a tooth or teeth to an earth workingimplement in which the position of the tooth or teeth may be adjusted.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention we providean earth working implement having an earth engaging blade bounded by anearth engaging edge and a tooth removably mounted on said blade andthere being releasable clamping means urging a part of the tooth intoengagement with said blade at a position spaced inwardly from said edgeto secure the tooth to the implement.

The clamping means may act directly on, and be positioned in between, apart of the blade and a part of the tooth.

The clamping means for the tooth may comprise a wedge member.

The infpiement may be a bucket and the blade part may be provided in theform of a toe plate on one side of the mount of the bucket.

Alternatively, the implement may be a scraper member, such as a scraperor bulldozer blade, said earth engaging blade being provided by aportion of said scraper member which, in use, engages the ground.

A plurality of teeth may be removably mounted on the blade.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Two embodiments of the presentinvention will now be described in more detail by way of example withreference to the accompanying drawings wherein FIG. I is a perspectiveview of part of an earth working implement and tooth according to theinvention,

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a plan view of part of an earth working implement and toothaccording to another embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 4 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the implement of FIG.3, and,

FIG. 5 is a transverse cross-section through two alternative pinmembers, and,

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic perspective view, to a reduced scale, of anearth working implement according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODiMENTS In the present example a bucketfor a backhoe type excavator is described as the earth working implementbut it should be appreciated that the present invention may be appliedto other earth working implements such as buckets for front loaders orscraper blades or bulldozer blades or the like as well as for certainspecialized tools in which a single tooth of relatively large dimensionsis present in cooperation with an earth engaging blade.

in the case of a backhoe type excavator bucket the bucket is in the formof a steel box of, generally rectangular cross-section, closed at oneend and having an open mouth at the other end. One side of the box atthe open end constitutes an earth engaging blade which, in use, digsinto the earth to be moved. This blade may be formed integrally with theremainder of the bucket or may be in the form of a toe plate secured,for example, by welding or bolting, to the above mentioned side of thebox.

The earth engaging blade, however it is formed, is usually provided witha tapered portion at its outer end, which terminates in an earthengaging edge.

It will be appreciated that in practice a truly geometrical edge is notalways achieved and the word "edge" as used herein should be construedto cover not only a geometrical edge but also a surface of relativelynarrow width.

The bucket of a backhoe excavator is normally provided with a number,for example four or five, of teeth which project outwardly from theabove discussed earth engaging edge of the blade part.

These teeth are subject to considerable wear in use and thus it isnecessary to provide a facility whereby they may be relatively easilyremoved and replaced.

It is also advantageous to be able to position the teeth where desiredalong the length of the blade part. Similar desiderata are present inconnection with the other earth working implements discussed above.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, only part of an earthworking bucket 9 is illustrated, illustrating part of the hereinbeforedescribed earth engaging blade which, in this case, is constructed as atoe plate. The blade is illustrated generally at 10 and a tooth, to beremovably secured thereto, is illustrated generally at II. The tooth I1is of tapered configuration, terminating in a chisel shaped point l2 andis made of hardened steel. A slot 13 is formed in the tooth ll of aconfiguration to provide a socket part to receive the front edge portionof the blade 10. The slot or socket part 13 has a front tapered portion14 to receive the tapered edge of the blade ID.

A passage 15 is formed in the tooth 11 and, as best shown in FIG. 2,extends into the slot 13 to form a portion 16 of the slot 13 of greaterheight than the remainder of the slot.

A steel wedge member 17 is provided and is insertable through thepassage 15 into the portion 16 of the slot I3 so as to engage betweenthe upper surface 18 of the portion 16, which surface 18 is inclined tothe lower surface 20 of the slot 13, and the upper surface I9 of theblade 10, thereby urging the lower surface 20 of the tooth 11 againstthe lower surface 21 of the blade 10, thereby securing the tooth ll tothe blade 10.

A recess 22 is formed in the lower surface 21 of the blade and extendslongitudinally thereof parallel to the front edge 23 of the blade 10.The tooth 1] is formed with a correspondingly shaped projecting portion24 which engages within the recess 22 and prevents movement of the toothit away from the blade [0 in a direction normal to the front edge 23 ofthe blade.

in the present example the recess 22 extends along the whole length ofthe blade 10 and so the tooth ll may be secured to the blade 10 at anyposition therealong. If desired, however, the recess 22 may only extendfor a part of the length of the blade 10 and in this case the tooth llcould only be secured to the blade 10 at any desired position along thislength.

It should be appreciated that if it is not required to provide afacility to secure the tooth 11 at any desired position along the blade10 the groove 22 could be provided merely at the position at which it isdesired to secure the tooth or teeth to the blade.

If desired, upstanding ribs 30 may be provided on one or both surfacesof the blade 10 at positions where it is desired to secure the tooth orteeth to prevent lateral movement of the teeth. The upstanding ribs maybe in the form of projections of weld and may be of relatively smallheight.

If desired, an alternative form of clamping means may be provided.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 3 and 4, this embodiment is verysimilar to the embodiment described above, except for the clamping meansto secure the tooth 111 to the blade 110. The tooth 111 is again oftapered configuration, having a chisel shaped point 112. A slot 113 isformed in the tooth 111 of a configuration to provide a socket part toreceive a front portion of the blade 110. The slot or socket part 113again has a tapered front portion 114 to receive the tapered end of theblade I Ill.

The blade 110 has a front edge portion 115 of greater thickness than theremainder of the blade 110 so as to provide a shoulder 116 therebetween.The shoulder 116 is of arcuate form.

A recess 117 of a shape to accommodate a pin member 119 is provided inthe upper surface 118 of the slot 113 in the tooth 111. A pin member I19comprising two semicircular metal portions 120 secured together bybonding to a resilient member 111, for example rubber, is engaged in therecess 117 and abuts against the arcuate shoulder I16 and thus urges thelower surface 121 of the slot I13 against the lower surface 122 of theblade 110 and also urges the tapered part 123 of the blade I 10 into thetapered portion I14 of the slot I13, thereby clamping the tooth 111 tothe blade 110.

Again the shoulder 116 may be provided to extend along either the wholelength of the blade 110 or over an extended but lesser portion of thelength of the blade, or merely in localized portions if no adjustment ofthe position of attachment of the teeth 11 I to the blade 110 isrequired.

In the present example the pin 119 is made of two dissimilar parts 120,the one part 120 which engages the shoulder 116 is of the same halfcylindrical configuration over the whole of its length, as best shown inFIG. 3. The other half 120 of the pin 119, however, is of reducedcross-section intermediate its end, as indicated at 124 so thatoutwardly projecting shoulders 125 are provided which engage the sidesurfaces 126 of a reduced width portion 127 of the tooth 111, therebypreventing lateral movement of the pin 119 in use.

in order to facilitate insertion of the pin 119 the end portions of thehalf of the pin of reduced cross-section intermediate its end aretapered, as indicated at 128.

Although in this example a shoulder 116 has been described as the partof the blade H engaged by the pin 117, ifdesired, instead of a shoulder116, the blade 110 could be provided with a recess of a similarconfiguration to the recess 117 provided in the tooth l I 1.

Instead of the two part pin shown at 119 any other form of resilientlyexpandable member may be used, for example a tension pin such as the pinshown at A in P16. 5, which is of circular cross-section and has anaxially extending slot A, or a spiral pin such as the pin shown at B inFIG. which is of spiral form.

in all cases the pin may be provided with shoulders similar to thatdescribed in connection with the pin 119 but this may not be essentialin practice because the inherent resilience of the pins may besufficient to prevent lateral movement of the pins out of engagementwith the blade and tooth.

it will be appreciated that both embodiments described hereinbeforeprovide a very convenient way of removably securing a pin to an earthworking implement and that, if desired, the means may be utilized toenable securing of the tooth at any position longitudinally of the bladeof the earth working implement merely by providing the shoulder 116 orgroove 22 along that portion of the blade in which adjustment isrequired.

What I claim then is I. An earth working implement comprising,

an elongated imperforate earth-engaging blade bounded by anearth-engaging edge,

at least one tooth mounted on said blade, said tooth having a rearbifurcated portion forming a socket to receive the edge portion of theblade therein,

said tooth having a forwardly facing wall formed with an openingtherethough leading into the socket,

clamping means in the opening and in bearing contact with a wall of thesocket and an adjacent surface of the blade to clamp said tooth to saidblade,

said blade being of constant cross section substantially along itsentire length and forming an elongated toothreceiving portion whoselength is greater than the width of said tooth,

said socket being of constant cross section corresponding to that of theedge portion of the blade,

said clamping means being inset-table through said opening to beardirectly against said blade at any position throughout said bladelength, whereby said tooth may be clamped to said blade at any desiredposition throughout said tooth receiving length of said blade when saidclamping means is retained within said recess.

2. An earth working implement according to claim 1 in which the clampingmeans comprises a wedge member.

3. An earth working implement according to claim 1 wherein said bladeand the opposite wall of the socket are pro vided with cooperating meansfor further securing the tooth against withdrawal thereof from theblade.

4. An earth working implement in accordance with claim 3 wherein saidcooperating means of said wall and blade comprise projecting means onone end and a depressed portion presenting a shoulder on the otheragainst which the projecting means abuts when within the depressedportion.

5. An earth-working implement according to claim 1, wherein said bladeis provided with projections at spaced positions along said toothreceiving length on one face of the blade, said projections providinglocating means to help restrain lateral movement of a tooth relative tosaid blade.

6. An earth-working implement according to claim I, wherein theimplement is a bucket and said blade is provided in the form of a toeplate on one side of the mouth of the bucket.

7. An earth-working implement according to claim 1, wherein theimplement is a blade member, said earth-engaging blade being provided bya portion of said blade member which, in use, engages the ground.

8. An earth working implement comprising: an elongated earth-engagingblade bounded by an imperforate earth-engag ing edge,

at least one tooth mounted on said blade said tooth having a rearbifurcated portion forming a socket to receive the edge portion of ablade therein,

a wall of the socket and the opposed surface of the blade each beingformed with a depressed portion in opposed relation to each other,

the depressed portion of the wall presenting a forwardly facingshoulder,

the depressed portion of the blade presenting a rearwardly facingshoulder spaced forwardly of the shoulder formed on the wall andextending the entire length of said blade so that the tooth can bemounted at any position along the length of the blade,

said depressed portions extending in a direction providing a sideentrance to the space between the shoulders,

and clamping means extending through the entrance in the depressedportions of the wall and blade between the shoulders, to secure thetooth on the blade.

9. An earth-working implement according to claim 8 wherein the clampingmeans comprises a pin member which is resiliently compressible inwardly.

10. An earth-working implement according to claim 8, wherein said bladeis provided with projections at spaced positions along said bladereceiving length on one face of the blade, adjacent projectionsproviding locating means to help 12. An earth-working implementaccording to claim 8 restrain lateral movement of a tooth relative tosaid blade. wherein the implement is a blade member said anbensaaing II.An earth-working implement according to claim 8 wherein the implement isa bucket and said blade is provided :TQ ZSJZ ggg of said blade member inthe form of a toe plate on one side of the mouth of the 5 g g gr I l l ii bucket.

Patent NO. 3,678,605 Dated July 25, 1972 Inventor(g) DEREK ARTHUR PRIMEIt is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent andthat said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Claim 10, line 3, cancel "receiving length".

Signed and sealed this 13th day of February 1973.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCI-[ALK Attesting Officer Commissionerof Patents FORM PC1-1050 (10-69) USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 Q U 5 GOVERNMENTPRINYVNG OFFlCE (9'9 0-365-334

1. An earth working implement comprising, an elongated imperforateearth-engaging blade bounded by an earth-engaging edge, at least onetooth mounted on said blade, said tooth having a rear bifurcated portionforming a socket to receive the edge portion of the blade therein, saidtooth having a forwardly facing wall formed with an opening therethoughleading into the socket, clamping means in the opening and in bearingcontact with a wall of the socket and an adjacent surface of the bladeto clamp said tooth to said blade, said blade being of constant crosssection substantially along its entire length and forming an elongatedtooth-receiving portion whose length is greater than the width of saidtooth, said socket being of constant cross section corresponding to thatof the edge portion of the blade, said clamping means being insertablethrough said opening to bear directly against said blade at any positionthroughout said blade length, whereby said tooth may be clamped to saidblade at any desired position throughout said tooth receiving length ofsaid blade when said clamping means is retained within said recess. 2.An earth working implement according to claim 1 in which the clampingmeans comprises a wedge member.
 3. An earth working implement accordingto claim 1 wherein said blade and the opposite wall of the socket areprovided with cooperating means for further securing the tooth againstwithdrawal thereof from the blade.
 4. An earth working implement inaccordance with claim 3 wherein said cooperating means of said wall andblade comprise projecting means on one end and a depressed portionpresenting a shoulder on the other against which the projecting meansabuts when within the depressed portion.
 5. An earth-working implementaccording to claim 1, wherein said blade is provided with projections atspaced positions along said tooth receiving length on one face of theblade, said projections providing locating means to help restrainlateral movement of a tooth relative to said blade.
 6. An earth-workingimplement according to claim 1, wherein the implement is a bucket andsaid blade is provided in the form of a toe plate on one side of themouth of the bucket.
 7. An earth-working implement according to claim 1,wherein the implement is a blade member, said earth-engaging blade beingprovided by a portion of said blade member which, in use, engages theground.
 8. An earth working implement comprising: an elongatedearth-engaging blade bounded by an imperforate earth-engaging edge, atleast one tooth mounted on said blade said tooth having a rearbifurcated portion forming a socket to receive the edge portion of ablade therein, a wall of the socket and the opposed surface of the bladeeach being formed with a depressed portion in opposed relation to eachother, the depressed portion of the wall presenting a forwardly facingshoulder, the depressed portion of the blade presenting a rearwardlyfacing shoulder spaced forwardly of the shoulder formed on the wall andextending the entire length of said blade so that the tooth can bemounted at any position along the length of the blade, said depressedportions extending in a direction providing a side entrance to the spacebetween the shoulders, and clamping means extending through the entrancein the depressed portioNs of the wall and blade between the shoulders,to secure the tooth on the blade.
 9. An earth-working implementaccording to claim 8 wherein the clamping means comprises a pin memberwhich is resiliently compressible inwardly.
 10. An earth-workingimplement according to claim 8, wherein said blade is provided withprojections at spaced positions along said blade receiving length on oneface of the blade, adjacent projections providing locating means to helprestrain lateral movement of a tooth relative to said blade.
 11. Anearth-working implement according to claim 8 wherein the implement is abucket and said blade is provided in the form of a toe plate on one sideof the mouth of the bucket.
 12. An earth-working implement according toclaim 8 wherein the implement is a blade member, said earth-engagingblade being provided by a portion of said blade member which, in use,engages the ground.